Photo Credit: SM Entertainment
NCT’s TEN makes a striking return with “STUNNER”, his highly-anticipated second solo EP, via SM Entertainment. Frequently tipped as one of K-pop’s most masterful multilingual aces, the mini-album delivers seven electrifying tracks that further highlight his versatility.
The EP opens with the R&B-infused pop single ‘STUNNER’, allowing TEN’s dynamic vocals to move fluidly between delicate melodies, effortless rap, and intimate whispers. Both English and Korean versions of the song on the record present different perspectives. Where the Korean version expresses growing feelings for someone impossible to resist, the English version centres around TEN as the captivating force (aka the ‘Stunner’). The track is produced by Swedish pop producers Jacob Werner and Elias Edman, who have worked with Zara Larsson and Armin van Buuren.
Where his introductory solo EP last year felt decidedly more nocturnal, on “STUNNER”, TEN comes into dusktime and showcases a breezier side.
The R&B-pop track, ‘Enough For Me’, features an addictive, minimal groove paired with a hypnotic chorus. Its English lyrics, centred around enjoying the moment in the midst of a buzzing party, add to the song’s effortless vibe.
The infectious pre-release track ‘BAMBOLA’ effortlessly slots into the vibrant experimental world of NCT’s music. Infused with an irresistible hip-hop dance beat and TEN’s energetic flow, the English lyrics portray a playful, mischievous character trying to control someone like a doll.
‘Sweet As Sin’ is a dark, moody track that blends pop and hip-hop elements, while the English track ‘Waves’ brings levity, carried by Afrobeats-inspired production that showcases TEN’s soft, captivating vocals about surrendering to your feelings for someone. ‘Waves’ is co-produced and co-written by Venezuelan-Swedish rising star Omar Rudberg, best-known for his role in Netflix’s Young Royals. ‘Butterfly’ is a heartfelt track that combines lo-fi piano with orchestral elements, which TEN uses to reflect longingly on cherished memories.
With the release of his self-titled debut mini-album last year, TEN topped the iTunes Album Charts in 28 regions around the world and ranked #1 on the iTunes Worldwide Album Chart. Following that, his group WayV launched their sixth mini-album “FREQUENCY” in November, which broke their own week-one sales records and earned them the historic title of the first non-Korean group to win a first-place award on a Korean music show.
